Curious aspects of three-dimensional N=1 $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ SCFTs

Abstract We study the dynamics of certain 3d N=1 $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ time reversal invariant theories. Such theories often have exact moduli spaces of supersymmetric vacua. We propose several dualities and we test these proposals by comparing the deformations and supersymmetric ground states. First,...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Davide Gaiotto, Zohar Komargodski, Jingxiang Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2018-08-01
Series:Journal of High Energy Physics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/JHEP08(2018)004
Description
Summary:Abstract We study the dynamics of certain 3d N=1 $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ time reversal invariant theories. Such theories often have exact moduli spaces of supersymmetric vacua. We propose several dualities and we test these proposals by comparing the deformations and supersymmetric ground states. First, we consider a theory where time reversal symmetry is only emergent in the infrared and there exists (nonetheless) an exact moduli space of vacua. This theory has a dual description with manifest time reversal symmetry. Second, we consider some surprising facts about N=2 $$ \mathcal{N}=2 $$ U(1) gauge theory coupled to two chiral superfields of charge 1. This theory is claimed to have emergent SU(3) global symmetry in the infrared. We propose a dual Wess-Zumino description (i.e. a theory of scalars and fermions but no gauge fields) with manifest SU(3) symmetry but only N=1 $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ supersymmetry. We argue that this Wess-Zumino model must have enhanced supersymmetry in the infrared. Finally, we make some brief comments about the dynamics of N=1 $$ \mathcal{N}=1 $$ SU(N) gauge theory coupled to N f quarks in a time reversal invariant fashion. We argue that for N f < N there is a moduli space of vacua to all orders in perturbation theory but it is non-perturbatively lifted.
ISSN:1029-8479